Colorfull Mycoocoon

The energy colors transmit, have a huge effect on us. They can help us to balance our energy and to live in harmony within the environment around us, but most importantly, within ourselves. With this theory, created Mycoocoon it’s concept: mycocoon immersion. The concept is literally an organic color light immersion, which is based on research in chromotherapy, aromatherapy, lighting, furniture design, and music. This idea is based on the belief that each individual is drawn to a certain color they need to bring balance in their energy and the emerging of their senses.

To bring the balance from the customer’s color energy back, designers Lazavecchia and Wai and Marine Peyre developed special coocoons to provide a “light bath” or a “bain de lumière”. You can find the coocoons located in airports, hotels, corporate offices and spas. The color immersion pod contains a lounge seat for one, a set of non-harmful frequency LEDs, a large shade suspended over the lounge seat, a tablet that’s running the Mycoocoon chromatests application and headphones which are connected to the Mycoocoon system via Bluetooth.

The cocoon immerses the body in main colors in a predetermined order and rhythm. Customers can receive chromatests in the Mycoocoon immersion spaces. These tests establish their personal chromatic profiles and define their energy balance, color and needs.

It all starts with the color that’s missing from the chromatic profile of the customer. Following are the complementary colors. Every color is connected with a specific role, but together they create the ultimate moment of relaxation. In combination with certain aromas and sounds, the Mycoocoon creates a whole new experience.

A part of Mycoocoon is Mycoloremotion. It’s an online community of individuals, which is based on their own emotional and chromatic profiles. It offers a real-time indicator of people’s connection with each other and sharing their color-emotion with people all around the world.

Mycoocoon organizes events, exhibitions with all kinds of artists, designers, chefs and musicians and all kind of people which has to do a lot with color. Together they offer services to businesses on Color Team Building to increase the well-being of the employees of the company at work.

Mycoocoon consists of two variants. Mycoocoon nomade are impermanent installations. They are set up as practical furniture during events, while Mycoocoon immersion are more permanent type of spaces established in buildings and business locations.

To give you an idea of how color could affect your emotions, I’ll show you the meanings of some main colors. In this way, you’ll understand how certain colors can give you a positive feeling, and other colors can make you feel down. The color wheel is a tool for understanding color and color relationships.

Yellow

Yellow shines with optimism, enlightenment and happiness. Shades of golden yellow carry the promise of a positive future. Yellow will advance from surrounding colors and instill optimism and energy, as well as spark creative thoughts.

• Effects: stimulates mental processes, stimulates the nervous system, activates memory, encourages communication

Green

Green occupies more space in the spectrum visible to the human eye than most colors, and is second only to blue as a favorite color.               Green is the pervasive color in the natural world, making it an ideal backdrop in interior design because we’re so used to seeing it everywhere.

• Effects: soothes, relaxes mentally, as well as psychically, helps alleviate depression, nervousness and anxiety, offers a sense of renewal, self-control and harmony

Blue

Blue is seen as trustworthy, dependable and committed. The color of ocean and sky, blue is perceived as a constant in our lives. As the collective color of the spirit, it invokes rest and can cause the body to produce chemicals that are calming.

• Effects: calm and sedates, cools

Purple

Purple embodies the balance of red’s stimulation and blue’s calm. With a sense of mystic and royal qualities, purple is a color often well liked by very creative or eccentric types and is the favorite color of adolescent girls.

• Effects: uplifts, calms the mind and nerves, offers a sense of spirituality, encourages creativity

Pink

Brighter pinks are youthful, fun and exciting, while vibrant pinks have the same high energy as red; they are sensual and passionate, without being too aggressive. Toning down the passion of red with the purity of white results in the softer pinks that are associated with romance and the blush of a young woman’s cheeks.

• Bright pinks, like the color red, stimulate energy and can increase the blood pressure, respiration, heartbeat and pulse rate. They also encourage action and confidence. Pink has been used in prison holding cells to effectively reduce erratic behavior

Red

Red has more personal associations than any other color. Recognizes as a stimulant, red is inherently exciting and the amount of red is directly related to the level of energy perceived. Red draws attention and a keen use of red as an accent can immediately focus attention on a particular element.

• Effects: increases enthusiasm, stimulates energy and can increase the blood pressure, respiration, heartbeat and pulse rate, encourages action and confidence, provides a sense of protection from fear and anxiety

Orange

Orange, a close relative of red, sparks more controversy than any other hue. There is usually strong positive or negative association to orange and true orange generally elicits a stronger “love it” or “hate it” response than other colors. Fun and flamboyant orange radiates warmth and energy.

• Effects: stimulates activity, stimulates appetite, encourages socializations

White

White projects purity, cleanliness and neutrality. Doctors don white coats, brides traditionally wear white gowns and a white picket fence surrounds a safe and happy home.

• Effects: aids mental clarity, encourages us to clear clutter or obstacles, evokes purification of thoughts or actions, enables fresh beginnings

Gray

Gray is the color of intellect, knowledge and wisdom. It is perceived as long-lasting, classic and often as sleek or refined. It is a color that is dignified, conservative and carries authority. Gray is a perfect neutral, which is why designers often use it as background color.

• Effects: unsettles, creates expectations

Black

Black is authoritative and powerful, because black can evoke strong emotions, too much can be overwhelming. Black represents a lack of color, the primordial void, emptiness. It is a classic color for clothing, possibly because it makes the wearer appear thinner and more sophisticated.

• Effects: make one feel inconspicuous, provides a restful emptiness, is mysterious by evoking a sense of potential and possibility

This concept fits the trend individualization. It adapts the activity of the Mycoocoon to each individual to optimize its effect. The cocoon is also developed to take care of one person at the time, so each person gets the personal attention they need. This example also fits he trend technology, because today’s, newest technology is needed to make this concept happen.

Sources:
http://www.mycoocoon.com/

http://www.psfk.com/2014/10/chromatic-lighting-experience-awakens-senses.html

http://positivemed.com/2013/03/07/the-psychology-of-color/

Stereotyping violent masculinity

In most places in the world, violent and sexual crimes are most often committed by the male sex. This also happens in Africa. There are way too much examples of individual gendered aggression and the association between masculinity and violence. This contributes to the problem, which Dr. Jackson Kats calls, ‘violent masculinity as a cultural norm’. This dangerous affiliation makes violence seem normal, while there are many men who do not fit the stereotype. The men who are husbands, fathers and inspirations to many people.

That’s why the South African photographer Jodi Bieber has been fighting the relation between violence and masculinity for the past three years. She photographs men who do not fit the stereotype. The photo report is called “Quiet”, and shows powerful masculinity, but without its brute force and its machismo. The photos show us the soft debility which every human being possesses, regardless of gender.

“For this project, I asked everyone I knew to get me in touch with men they might know, who would help me with my project. Finally, I found a few men from all walks of life who would collaborate with me. Together we created a quiet portrait of themselves. I did this by asking them to ‘take of their uniform’, by only wearing their underwear. To make them feel comfortable anyways, I photographed them in their safe spaces, like their home,” Jodi said.

She spends one to three hours with every man who wanted to pose for her. This would be enough time for each man to literally strip his clothes, as well as his ‘invisible clothes’. By invisible clothes, is meant the threshold the men need to pass before they’re comfortable within only their underwear. As a result, the images show a calm and soft side of manhood, which isn’t often broadcasted in mainstream culture. This piece of art should open up the space for boys and men to see themselves in another way then society forces them to. They don’t need to be the traditional stereotype we are used to seeing anymore. If we keep seeing men as the aggressive types we see them now, it will still be the cultural norm.

To strengthening the message, Bieber asked each of her models the question: “Who are you in the world?” Every single man gave their own answer, ranging from their familial roles to more abstract position they see themselves in the world, like “one in a million.” Those different types of responses, show that masculinity is not just one thing.

Jodi’s artwork creates a space for the coexistence of masculinity and susceptibility. She hopes that she can make people aware of the fact that men don’t have to struggle anymore to fit a certain gender stereotype. She wants her images to serve as an example for this awareness. If more and more men can be themselves without pressure from society telling them what a men should be like, it’s possible that the cycle of violence can be broken before it reaches the next generation.

This piece of artwork fits the trend Masculinity & Femininity, because it gives us a new perspective on what a men really should be. Does everybody have to fit the stereotype to be a man, or can everybody just be themselves? Society has a certain look of what a man should be, but does that mean that, if you don’t fit the standard, you aren’t a man? This project shows us the contrary of society’s view.

Sources:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/14/jodi-bieber_n_5949036.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063

No-Poo

Nothing feels as good as a nice, fresh taken shower. All of your make-up removed, your hair freshly washed and the lovely smell of shampoo. For lots of people, one of the best parts of a beauty routine. Or.. maybe not.  I’ve read that more and more women hadn’t washed their hair with shampoo for a few months, or even a few years. I was shocked. How do they clean their hair? This phenomenon is called No-Poo. I’m going to explain to you in this post what it exactly means and why it’s so popular.

The big question, of course, is why? We have been looking for that one shampoo which is perfect for our hair and allows us to feel like we belong in a L’Oreal advertising. But maybe, that’s the answer though; we don’t have the hair we want, because shampoos are chock full of sulfates, bleaches and chemicals. Even natural shampoos aren’t as good for our hair as they seem, because our scalp is going to dependent on the product after a while. Thereby, the head no longer cleans itself. This does make sense actually, because the more often we wash our hair, the more often we must wash it. Women who don’t wash their hair with shampoo anymore, say that their hair is less frizzy and less greasy and that their hair is softer and shinier than before.
If you’re already happy that you survive three days without washing your hair and swear by your dry shampoo, you’d probably ask yourself how it’s even possible not to wash your hair even on day four. And, eventually maybe 4 months without washing your hair!

This is because you need to pass a threshold. Hair that’s washed a lot is often overproducing oils. If you stop washing your hair, the overproducing will also stop and the hair will balance itself again. But, it takes time. If you have thick hair, it doesn’t take so long. Maybe, about two weeks. Thin hair takes a little longer, about four to five weeks. The first thing you can try if you would like to make this transition, is to stretch your hair washing days. For example, start with every four days and then every five days to wash your hair. Reduce it even more after that. But what after that?

There are a few options for this No-Poo trend. The first one is called “Cold Turkey”.  One option to regard is to use no more products for your hair at all. You can wash your hair every few days with water, without using shampoo or any other hair products. This is an option where you haven’t reached the result in about a weak, but in the end it’s worth it!
The second option is the combination of baking soda and vinegar. This is the option most women choose within their No-Poo lifestyle. They wash their hair with baking soda or apple cider vinegar. Baking powder is a subtle cleanser which removes dead skin cells and impurities without chemical ingredients. Appel cider vinegar cleanses the scalp and softens the hair. Use one tablespoon of the baking soda or vinegar and mix it with one cup op water. You could also use the baking soda on the top of your head and the vinegar at the length. If you want to wash your hair only with water after a while, this intermediate step is the perfect solution.

The last option is to replace your shampoo by a cleansing cream. And no, “cleansing cream” is not just a label which companies stuck on a shampoo bottle to make it sell better. It is a cleansing cream without foam or other shampoo-characterizes. If you use it for the first time, there is a chance you use way too much of it. You need the same amount of cleansing cream like shampoo, sometimes even less. The cleanser cleans the hair in a gently way and is definitely worth a try!

Maybe it sounds a little weird to follow the No-Poo trend, but if it’s working for other women, why wouldn’t it work for you? So, pass the boundary and leave your shampoo aside.

The No-Poo trend is a small example of the 24/7 economy. Most people don’t want to spend their leisure on external care. They love going to a spa or al wellness center, but don’t have time to put on a skin care mask and a hair mask every night after a long workday, while doing their nails. This lack of time ensures the rise of trends like No-Poo. With a little touch of Feminization and individualization, this trend fits in today’s society.

Sources:

http://mens-en-gezondheid.infonu.nl/lifestyle/126477-de-no-poo-methode-was-je-haar-schoon-zonder-shampoo.html

http://www.groenenchic.nl/beauty/no-poo-was-zonder-shampoo/

Sportswear designs

Formerly, people wore sportswear purely for the practice of sport. It didn’t have to be beautiful, as long as it was functional. The blurring between fashion and sportswear began in the 1980s. One went to the gym more often. They wanted to move to the next point on their to do list, without having to change after going to the gym. More and more people went for comfort, but it still had to look good. Lifestyle choices and an increasing level of informality in society had their repercussions in fashion. Sportswear and fashion were more similar to each other.

When sports became a lifestyle choice, sportswear got a new meaning. We saw that women went to the gym or the yoga studio more and more often in the 1980s, but they didn’t want to sacrifice their sense of style do to this. Top model Christy Turlington launched the new yoga line Nuala for Puma in 2000. The line was intended for women with a busy life, who didn’t had time to dress up over and over again. The comfortable garments by Nuala could be combined to be worn to yoga class likewise to lunch.

Collaborations between big fashion and sports brands is a combination that’s seen a lot nowadays. Co-branding is a fashion phenomenon, but also a useful marketing tool. Think of Puma and Alexander McQueen, Adidas and Stella McCartney, Commes des Garcons en Speedo or Yohji Yamamoto and Adidas. Connecting these big names with each other, creates a cross-pollination, where both can get their benefit from. The brand awareness of the sports company as well the designer get a new impulse within a new target group.

A less formal lifestyle has also played a large role in the way we look at sportswear. The journalist Oliver Hornton called it the ‘ democratization of fashion ‘. One is more relaxed about fashion and wearing couture from head to toe is a thing of the past. Nowadays, people are free in making their own fashion choices. Successfully combining different styles is precisely what they aspire to. Now, it’s really modern when someone wears sporty shoes with a nice suit, without appearing as if he put much thought in it.

It started with the Internet boom in Silicon Valley. Employees of Internet start-ups started to dressed less formal. With the success of these companies, our society became aware of this phenomenon. Between 1992 and 1999, more and more companies entered the casual Friday. Meanwhile, the need for a certain formality in offices is coming back a little. But, this doesn’t mean that the rules are again as they used to. With the casual Friday, a certain freedom has won.

Not all fashion designers who are willing to develop in the fashion of sports are asking a sports giant for help. When luxury brand Prada wanted to broach a new target group, it launched Prada Sport in 1997. The brand created a whole new kind of fashion with technically advanced fabrics and easy fits. Fashion houses recognized that the development of a sporty line would attract more customers. Designer clothes has, partly due to the influence of hip hop, become wildly popular, and sportswear hadn’t lost its popularity yet. By combining designer clothes and sportswear, the positive effect wasn’t only for the fashion designers, but also for the customers as well. More affordable clothing that was comfortable and yet luxurious; a classic win-win situation.

One thing is for sure; the need for designer clothes in the sporting goods sector seems to persist. As long as fashion is fashionable, sports remain popular, and comfort and status are important to consumers, fashion designers and sports giants will collaborate just fine.

This modification in the fashion of sportswear shows that people have the ability to improve clothes. We’re not only making them prettier, but we also make them better. With technology we can create certain kinds of fabrics, which can improves our sports accomplishments. But also, fashion brands have the chance to work with new kinds of fabric. This idea of improvement will fit the trends Technology and Individualization. Technology to improve the clothes, and Individualization, because people want to express their own styles in wearing the clothes they like. Therefore, all kinds of clothing has to be designed. By adding technology to the designs, the collaboration of fashion brands and sports brands are more useful than ever.

Sources:

http://www.ehow.com/about_5708716_history-gym-wear.html

wear.htmlhttp://www.fashionunited.nl/Content_by_Mail/Received_content/Sportkleding%3A_van_functioneel_tot_modieus_2005110112503/